Pennisi provides spark as San Miguel drubs Talk 'N Text

source: gmanews.tv

Mick Pennisi provided the spark and nailed the insurance basket in San Miguel Beer’s 100-90 drubbing of Talk `N Text Wednesday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

The 6-foot-10 many-time national team member scored 15 points, including nine in the opening half when he led the Beermen zoom to a as many as a 25-point lead.

And just as the Tropang Texters rallied back in the stretch, Pennisi was again there to bail his team out of trouble, draining a dagger three-pointer to pushSan Miguel on safer grounds (98-90) with 42 seconds remaining in the main game of a weekday doubleheader at the Big Dome.

“We still have a lot of work to do," admitted the San Miguel center. “But we didn’t lose our composure there. We just stuck to the game plan."

The Beermen now even their record at 2-2 after losing their first two games in the All-Filipino meet.

The Tropang Texters suffered their first loss after three straight wins, relegating them to a tie for second place along with Barangay Ginebra. Their loss also left idle Alaska as the only unbeaten team in the tournament at 4-0.

Arwind Santos and Dondon Hontiveros had 17 each to pace the Beermen, who enjoyed a 47-22 spread midway in the second period behind Pennisi’s hot hands.

But the Texters wouldn’t easily go down without a fight in a match pitting the two reigning conference champions in the league.

With Jason Castro and Mack Cardona leading the way, Talk ‘N Text made its way back in the final minutes of the game coming to as close as 93-89 on a completed steal by Castro.

But Cardona could only hit one of three free throws given him when he was hacked by Hontiveros while attempting from three-point range, 95-90, before Pennisi nailed the big trey that put the fight out of the Tropang Texters.

Back-to-back misses from three-point range by Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag in the final 22 seconds doomed Talk `N Text for good.

Alapag showed the way for Talk ‘N Text with 22 points, followed by Castro (20) and Cardona (16).

San Miguel 100 - Santos 17, Hontiveros 17, Pennisi 15, Seigle 11, Custodio 9, Cortez 9, Villanueva 7, Pena 6, Tugade 5, Miranda 2, Racela 2, Eman 0.

Talk N' Text 90 - Alapag 22, Castro 20, Cardona 16, Peek 13, De Ocampo Y. 8, De Ocampo R. 4, Carey 4, Belasco 2, Dillinger 1, Ritualo 0.

Quarter scores: 26-14, 55-38, 77-61, 100-90.

** Above Photo source: PBA.ph